Filming of the pilot episode of the 1966 Batman series began on Monday, 11 October 1965. The pilot, “Hi Diddle Riddle”/”Smack In The Middle,” would end up having effects that would ripple through both the television world, as well as that of the comics.
The initial plan was to film the pilot, and then film a feature movie before launching the series in fall 1966. However, ABC was experiencing a disastrous fall season in 1965. Most of the new shows, such as Tammy and O.K. Crackerby, were performing poorly. Only three shows (The FBI, The Big Valley and F Troop) would survive to their second season.
And that meant that this episode would have to air ASAP. This would be a real gamble in that the episodes did poorly with test audiences. ABC still pressed ahead to make this show a cornerstone of what would be “The Second Season” in January 1966. We all know what happened!!!
So what would have happened had the show’s cast had not been available?
This is really a loaded question, to say the least. But it would have been interesting nonetheless. Here are our (potentially nutty) choices for a few of those roles:
- Batman/Bruce Wayne: William Reynolds (born 1931). He would have been available, and did end up as a male lead on The FBI from 1967 to 1973. One of the most underrated actors of his generation, he met the physical specifications for the role.
- Robin: Good question. Burt Ward was really good in the role. Had the role been open to a woman, we would not have minded Jill St. John for it, since she had the moxie for tough roles, as she would show six years later on Diamonds Are Forever. But for the guys, I might suggest David Macklin (1941-2017), who was appearing at that time on the short-lived Tammy series.
- Commissioner James Gordon: Lyle Talbot (1902-1996), who played the commissioner in the 1949 Batman serial. Talbot was 63 when the pilot was filmed, and had young children (the youngest was born in 1961), and he was also three years younger than Neil Hamilton.
- Catwoman: Suzanne Pleshette (she was considered, but her price tag was too high), Michele Carey and Raquel Welch.
That said …
While the series ran a little more than two years, it made an impact on so many levels that are still being felt today. Production values were innovative, and it did help to save the Batman comic from cancellation (and also helped ABC survive as a network as well). Even as the series is showing its age, it remains legendary, and will continue to do so.
And it helped to revive Catwoman!!!
